Automatic boiler-feed apparatus.



Patented Apr. I6, |90I.

W. P. KIDDER.

AUTOMATIC BUILER FEED APPARATUS.

(Application led July 2l., 1900.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 672,I27. Patented Apr. I6, l90l. W. P. KIDDER.

AUTOMATIC Boll-ER 4FEED APPARATUS. (Application led July 2, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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No. 672,I27. Patented Apr. I6, |90l. W. P. KIDDER.

AUTUMATIC BILER FEED APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 21, 1900.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WELLINGTON PARKER KIDDER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC BOlLER-FEED APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 672,127, dated April 16, 1901 Application tiled July 2l, 1900 Serial No. 24.403 kNo model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, WELLINGTON PARKER KIDDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Sulolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Boiler-Feed Apparatus, of which the following is a speciication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a lengthwise sectional viewof the gravity feeder forming a part of my new boiler-feed apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a side elevation and a top plan view of a modification or diiferent form of apparatus embodying my invention.

The object of my invention is to feed automatically either cold or hot water from any suitable source of supply to the boiler, so as to maintain a fixed water-level in the boiler. My apparatus herein set forth is intended for use in motor-vehicles, as well as for use in marine, stationary, locomotive, 'or other boilers.

My apparatus comprises, among other elements, a pump which at a pressure always equal to or in excess of the boiler-pressure forces water into a gravity water-regulator (sometimes called a feeder) that communicates with the boiler.

A novel feature of my apparatus lies in connecting the pump with a tank (or any other source of water-su pply, such as a reservoir or street-conduit) and in providing the discharge-conduit connecting the pump with the regulator with a branch having a safety or relief valve, this branch discharging into the tank or elsewhere, as desired.

In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, A is a gravity-feeder. Its cylinder is similar to that of a steam-engine and is fixed to the side of a boiler R at the same elevation as that of the normal water-level in the b oiler. Reciprocating in said cylinder is a hollow piston or water-pocket D, (see Fig. 1,) communication with the interior of which is by an inlet waterport D', an inlet steam-port D2, and an outlet water-port D3. A water-feed-pipe inletport AX, a steam-inlet-pipe port A3, and a water-outlet-pipe port A4are made in the cylinder and are so located that when the piston is at one end of its stroke its port D' will register with the Water-feed-pipe inlet-port AIX in the cylinder, and at the other end of Ithe stroke its ports D2 and D3 will respectively register with the steam-inlet port A3 and the Water-discharge port A4in the cylinder, said water-feed inlet-port being connected to a pump V by a water-feed pipe S, While the boiler R, both above and below its normal water-level, is in communication with the feeder A by means of a steam-pipe A and a water-pipe A2. Steam at boiler-pressure is freely admitted from steam-pipe A through steam-passages A6 to both ends A5 of the cylinder, so that balanced pressure will permit the water-pocket to be easily reciprocated. Above the pump V is water-tank s3, which by means of a pipe slsupplies the pump with the necessary water.

Between the pump and the regulator A is both an air-pressu re dome SX and a dischargeconduit s, from which there is a branch s', discharging into the tanks s3, the branch s' being provided with a release or safety valve S5, adjusted to permit water to flow into the tank only at a pressure greater than that in the boiler.

A piston-rod E, fast to the water-pocket D, (see Fig. 1,) extends through an ordinary stuing-box A7, the outer end of the pistonrod E being connected with any suitable actuating mechanism-such, for' instance, as steam-engine U, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3-the piston-rod E being connected thereto by means of a link G, pivoted to a lever J, fast on a Vertical rocker-shaft J', pivoted at Yits upper end at J2 to the cylinder A, the lower end at J3 in a bracket fast to the boiler R, a rocking motion being imparted to this shaft J' by a crank J4 on gear J5, driven by pinion J6, fast on crank-shaft U of an ordinary steam-engine, a connecting-rod J7 on the crank being pivoted at its opposite end to a lever J8, similar to J, fast on shaft J'.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The water in the boiler being, for example, below its normal level-viz., below that of the gravity-feeder-water in the supply-tank IOO S3 is delivered to the pump V, which forces said Water through the feed-water pipe S, its inlet-port A'X, and the inlet water-port D/ into the pocket D, as shown in Fig. l. The pocket being filled with feed-Water, it moves into position at the other end of its stroke, is closed to the incoming feed-water, but in open communication with the boiler R by the steampipe A, steam-inlet port A3, and the inletport D2 in the pocket, and also by the Waterdischarge port D3 of the pocket, the dischargeport A4, and the discharge-pipe A3. As the feed-Water in the pocket is now part of the boiler circulation, is at boiler-pressure, and is above the Water-level in the boiler, it Hows down into the boiler, thus leaving the pocket empty. On the next reciprocation of the pocket more Water from the pump is fed into the pocket and then, as before, in turn allowed to flow down into the boiler. When the feed- Water is prevented from discharging into the Water-pocket D, the escape-valve s4 in the escape-pipe permits the feed-Water to flow through s3 into the tank.

Figs. 4 and 5 show modifications of my invention. The piston-rod E is reciprocated by yoke V, attached to the reciprocating pistonrod of an ordinary steam-pump V. In this arrangement it is seen that the pistonrod E is attached to the opposite end of the waterpocket, and the stufng-box is changed correspondingly. Further, a steam-pump is substituted for a pump and engine.

If desired, the feed-Water may be heated before entering the boiler R by iiowing through a coil in the discharge-pipe A3, (see Fig. 4,) which coil is contained in a steam-chamber V3, heated by the pumps exhaust-steam, said steam fiowing to said chamber V3 by the pipe V2 and escaping to the atmosphere by the drip-pipe V4.

What I claim isl. The combination of a Water-supply reservoir; a pump having a thereunto Watersupplying connection with the reservoir and having also a Water-discharge from lthe pump; a relief-valve for said water-discharge; a Water-regulator in communication with the water-discharging connection from the pump; a boiler in operative communication with the Water-regulator; and means for actuating the pump and regulator.

2. The combination of a water-supply reservoir; a pump having a thereunto Watersupplying connection with the reservoir and having also a Water-discharge from the pump into the reservoir; a relief-valve for said water-discharge; a Water-regulator in communication with the Water-discharging connection from the pump; a boiler in operativo communication with the Water-regulator; and means for actuating the pump and regulator.

3. The combination of a Water-supply reservoir; a pump having a thereunto watersupplying connection with the reservoir; and having also a water-discharge from the pump; a relief-valve for said water-discharge; a Water-regulator in communication With the water-discharge connection from the pump; a boiler in communication with the Water-regulator; means for` actuating the pump and regulator; and means for heating the feedwater, said means being between the Waterregulator and the boiler.

4. In boiler-feed apparatus, the combination of a pump connected with a water-supply and having a discharge -pipe provided with a branch havingasafety-valve; agravity-regulator connected with said pump; a boiler; a conduit connecting with the steamspace of the boiler and a conduit connecting the regulator with the Water side of the boiler.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WELLINGTON PARKER KIDDER.

Witnesses:

EDWARD S. BEACH, E. A. ALLEN. 

